pen·i·ten·tia·ry
ˌpe-nə-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)rē 
plural penitentiaries
1
a
: an officer in some Roman Catholic dioceses vested with power from the bishop to deal with cases of a nature normally handled only by the bishop
b
capitalized
: a cardinal presiding over a tribunal of the Roman curia (see curia sense 3) concerned with dispensations (see dispensation sense 2) and indulgences
2
: a public institution in which offenders against the law are confined for detention or punishment
specifically
: a state or federal prison in the U.S.
a federal penitentiary in Virginia
pen·i·ten·tia·ry
ˌpe-nə-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)rē
sense 1 also -ˈten(t)-shē-ˌer-ē
1
2
: of, relating to, or incurring confinement in a penitentiary
Synonyms
Noun
Examples of penitentiary in a Sentence
Noun
a sentence in the state penitentiary for robbery
Recent Examples on the Web
Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2024
But there’s a war out there in Tulsa, whose lucrative drug trade is not being overseen by the usual cartel, but by a native tribe chief (Graham Greene) who runs the Indian Brotherhood from a state penitentiary.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2024
Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 1 June 2023
Judge Octavio Rothschuh Andino announced the release of at least 222 inmates by the Nicaraguan penitentiary system at a press conference on Thursday, saying several were already en route to the US.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 9 Feb. 2023
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Noun
From a federal penitentiary in Virginia, Jose Landa-Rodriguez reconnected with an old friend in California.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2024
But there’s a war out there in Tulsa, whose lucrative drug trade is not being overseen by the usual cartel, but by a native tribe chief (Graham Greene) who runs the Indian Brotherhood from a state penitentiary.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2024
Adjective
These letters, as in any penitentiary institution in the world, are read and censored.
—Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 1 June 2023
Judge Octavio Rothschuh Andino announced the release of at least 222 inmates by the Nicaraguan penitentiary system at a press conference on Thursday, saying several were already en route to the US.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 9 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for penitentiary
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Cite this Entry
“Penitentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penitentiary. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
penitentiary
noun
pen·i·ten·tia·ry
ˌpe-nə-ˈten-chə-rē
plural penitentiaries
: a state or federal prison for the punishment and reformation of convicted felons compare house of correction, house of detention, jail, lockup
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